Amid resident outcry, Superior board rejects grant application

Superior's Board of Trustees unanimously rejected a resolution Monday night in support of a grant application to fund the installation of the Rocky Mountain Greenway Regional Trail.

The project, in which roughly a dozen residents spoke out against during the meeting, proposed building a trail through the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge — a site considered by many to still be contaminated with hazardous waste.

"If you approve this grant," said resident Jon Lipsky during public comment, "you're telling your residents that it is safe there, which it certainly is not."

The proposed project would connect the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge with public lands adjacent on the north and east sides, completing linkages of the Rocky Mountain Greenway Regional Trail initiative, according to official city documents.

Superior's contribution to the project was estimated to be about $122,780, with the federal contribution being $3.5 million. Local governments would provide 17 percent of the total, divided among the Boulder County and Jefferson County partners. The Boulder County entities included Boulder County, the city of Boulder and the town of Superior.

"There's radioactive material still buried out there," said Trustee Chris Hanson. "Why would we ever want to put a trail out there? Why would we take that chance? There's not even a chance I would support this."

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